Medical School holds ceremony in honour of Remembrance Day

A group of approximately 20 persons, including Canadian and American veterans, current serving members, students and Dean Michael B. Laskowski of Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) commemorated Remembrance Day/Veterans Day at SUSOM’s gazebo on Wednesday, November 11, writes The Daily Herald.

Island Governor Jonathan Johnson had a prior commitment but did pass on his regards for the occasion.

After a brief introduction to Remembrance Day, Dean Laskowski read an emotional poem by Sherrie Ball followed by Bhreagh MacDougall playing a moving rendition of “Lament to Remembrance Day” on her fiddle.

November 11, Remembrance Day as it is known in Canada and Veteran’s Day in the United States is also known as Poppy Day in the British Commonwealth. It is a memorial day observed since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. It is traditionally observed at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, as that marks the time when the armistice ending World War I became effective.

A version of Remembrance Day is also observed by The Netherlands, Israel, France, Belgium, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Italy and Germany. It is a day honouring the soldiers, sailors, airmen, merchant marine and volunteers who paid the ultimate price to defend family, friends and country. The ceremony on Saba concluded with a moment of silence in honour of the fallen.